Adjustable leg structure



March 9 1926. 5

' c. M. PARKER ADJUSTABLE me STRUCTURE Filed March 26 Patented Mar. 9, 1926.

" 2 UNITED STATES 1,575,455 PATENT; OFFICE. v

e CLIFTON M. PARKER, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA.

ADJUSTABLE LEG STRUCTURE.

Application filed March 28, 19 25. Serial No. 18,569.

Leg Structures; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as w ll enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to improvements in adjustable legs and more particularly refers to an adjustable and foldable leg structure applicable to chairs, stools, benches, ironing boards, tables, etc.

An object of the invention is to provide a leg structure in which the legs will be constructed and arranged for vertical movement, whereby the table top may be raised and lowered to suit various conditionsof use. 5

The invention'also contemplates the use of a folding leg structure with braces to reinforce the same.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, 'the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed outintheclaims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer tolike or corresponding parts throughout the several views: 7 I i I Figure 1 is aside view with parts shown in section of a table equipped with the improved leg structure,

"Figure 2 is an elevation of the leg structure separate from the table; 7 I

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevation with parts broken away of the improved device;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 44 in Fig. 3;

Figure 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 55 in Fig; 4; and

. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the locki'ng bar.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 7 designates a table top supported by the improved leg structure, each of which structures embody the two leg members 8 l and 9 adjustably mounted in the frame, which is preferably of sheet metal and of a width to extend an adequate distance transversely of the table top near the end thereof, whereby to give the legs 8 and 9 an adequate span to support the table against tilting movement. The frame 10 consists of a sheet of metal with its central portion removed, as indicated atll for purposes of lightness and the ends of said. sheet metal are bent outwardly at right angles to the plane of the sheet to form the flanges 12 and 13. Each flange is in turn bent along its outer edge to provide the restraining webs 14 and 15. These webs are arranged subst-antially parallel with the plate 10 and combine with the plate and with the flanges to form casings atthe end of the frame'for the purpose of housing the upper ends of the leg members. The flanges 12 and 13 are disposed at an angle to the vertical and preferably converge upwardly, as shown in Figs. 2 and The leg members 8 and 9 are made of rectangular cross-section and they slide within their respective casings, being held therein by thelocking bar 16, the ends of which are arranged to engage the inner faces of the leg members. The looking bar. 16 is shown in Fig. 6 and is provided with the beveled or inclined ends 17 to take flush against the inner faces of'the legs, which are arranged on a similar angle,

due to the positions of the flanges with which the legs slide in contact. The locking bar 16 is provided in i'ts'lower edge with one or more sockets 18, preferably two, to'receive the coil springs 19 for yieldingly urging the locking bar upwardly. The springs 19 are seated at their lower ends upon the ledge 20, constructed below the looking bar 16 fro-m the material of the sheet metal plate .10; The-ledge is bent outwardly from such 8 plate and is provided along its outer edge with the upturned flange 21. This upturned flange is adapted to overlap parts of the webs 14 and 15, to which it is rivetedv as in dicated at 22. The webs and flange thus I mutually reinforce one another. The webs are wide at their lower portions in order to overlap not only the legs 8 and 9 but also the locking bar 16, whereby to guide it in its vertical movement, but above the bar,m ay

be made narrow as indicated, as their only function is to guidethe'legs when'shifted in the upper position.

The ledge 20 is provided with the downwardly extending eyes or bearings 23 near its opposite ends and adjacent the legs yet spaced slightly from such legs. In these sockets are adapted to fit the inwardly turned trunnions 24- of the brace arms 25. The brace arms are preferably formed of a single piece of metal of round cross-section and the legs 8 and 9 serve to hold the trunnions in place, it being understood that the trunnions are inserted in the bearings 23 before the legs are shoved up into the easings. The convergent ends of the brace arms 25 are provided with straight short connecting necks 26 adapted to fit in sockets 27 opening downwardly and provided in webs 28 extending downwardly from plates 29 affixed as by nails or other fastenings to the bottom of the table top spaced inwardly from the leg structures. Pivoted latches 30 are carried by the webs 28 and serve to hold the connecting necks 26 of the braces in the slots 27. Such slots are substantially L- shaped or angle slots as shown to the left in Fig. 1, whereby portions of the web 28 below outerparts of the slots may sustain the braces and take the strain off the pivoted latches 30.

In the operation of the device, Fig; 1 shows the set-up condition of a table equipped with the invention. It is understood hat the table top 7 illustrates a drafting or other table, ironing board, bench, chair or the like. The leg structures are hinged to the underside of the table top by any appropriate hinges and may be folded therebencath by disengaging the braces from their catches. The hinge structure preferably used is that illustrated in the drawings, in which pressed-out domes 31 are formed from the upper portions of the flanges 12 and 13 and similar domes 32 engage the outer c011- veX edges of the domes 31 being pivoted thereto as by the rivets or other fastenings 33. The outer domes are provided with the angular perforated attaching plates 34: to fit against the underside of the table top to receive fastenings by which the attaching plates are secured tothe table top.

By depressing the locking bar 16 downwardly against the influence of the springs 19, the legs 8 and 9 are free to be shifted up or down in order to vary the elevation of the table top 7. For facility in shifting the locking bar 16, theflupper surface thereof is formed with a central rounded depression 35, which agrees preferably with the contour of the lower portion of the elliptical opening 11 in the plate 10, whereby the locking bar may be accessible from both sides of the plate and may be depressed down to a point substantially even with the lower edge of the opening 11. The slightest depression of the locking bar will be sufficient to free the legs. The leg structure as a unit is shown in Fig. 2 and together with its hinges and the attaching devices for the braces, the improved device may be applied to any chair, table or other supporting structure.

The weight of the structure together with the weight of the table top, and the weight of any articles placed thereon serve to lock the legs more securely, the springs serving only to make the ends of the lock bar come in contact with the legs. The lock bar is also provided with the nails, screws or other projections 30 extending outwardly therefrom near the ends of the lock bar in order to strike against the tabs 31 projecting inwardly from the upper inner portions of the enlarged parts of-the webs l4 and 15. These tabs act as stops for the screws 30, and prevent the lock bar from escaping when the legs are removed as otherwise the spring would have a tendency to shove the lock bar up above the large parts of the webs and the lock bar would tend to fall out of the frame.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. An adjustable leg structure compris ing a frame having convergent casings, legs slidable in said casings, a locking bar slidable in said frame and having beveled ends to engage the legs, and yieldable means to urge the bar toward the convergent ends of the casings.

2. An adjustable leg structure comprising a plate having converging flanges and webs angularly disposed to the flanges and providing casings, legs slidable in the cas ings, a locking bar slidable between and engaging said legs,,a ledge on the plate adjacent the bar, and resilient means between the ledge and bar.

3. An adjustable leg structure comprising a frame having convergent flanges with webs angularly disposed to the flanges and forming casings, a ledge on the frame having a flange secured to said webs, legs slidable in said casings, a locking bar slidable in said frame, and spring means between the bar and ledge.

CLIFTON M. PARKER. 

